Message from BLM: We are pleased to announce new, exciting positions available at BLM – BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. It is our hope that qualified, career oriented individuals at your organization or other professionals known to you will actively consider this position and apply accordingly. Efforts on your part to disseminate this information are greatly appreciated.

Cartographic/Graphics Technicians produce maps which are geographic representations facilitating a special understanding of objects, concepts, conditions, processes or events in the world; provide illustrations for publications, presentations and grant applications/reports; and create manual covers, forms, charts, graphs and materials.

The University of Nevada, Reno is recruiting for a Cartographic/Graphics Technician 3 for the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology. The incumbent will be responsible for ensuring high-quality maps, data, reports, posters, figures, tables, and other products for publication and providing services and expertise in the areas of GIS, cartography, graphic design, publications, web design, web applications, web services, animations and hazard loss modeling to faculty, staff, students, and clients; as well as other duties as assigned.

The typical work schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; this is subject to change based on organizational needs. This position does not provide lay-off rights and is contingent upon funding. Pursuant to Nevada Legislature, State of Nevada Classified employees are subject to a mandatory unpaid furlough requirement of six days (part-time prorated) per fiscal year effective July 1, 2013. Information regarding campus security, personal safety, fire safety, and crime statistics can be found at http://www.unr.edu/Documents/administration-finance/Police/2012-Annual-Report.pdf. Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.

Nevada Active Mines and Energy Producers (second edition)
by John Muntean and David A. Davis
2014

Site locations and information on this map were obtained from a variety of published and non-published sources with the last updates made in December 2013. All sites shown on this map have had some form of production activity during 2012 and 2013.The second edition includes the names of the mining districts which were only shown as a symbol marking the center of the district on the first edition map. This map was prepared in cooperation with the Nevada Division of Minerals.

Craig dePolo’s research on foreshock occurrence was published in the May/June 2014 issue of Seismological Research Letters.

High Probability of Foreshock Occurrence and Significant Probability of Multiple Events Associated with Magnitude ≥6 Earthquakes in Nevada, U.S.A., by Craig M. dePolo

Considering 17 earthquakes in Nevada with magnitude ≥6 and adequate records, 88%–94% were preceded by reported foreshock activity within 120 days before the mainshock. Considering a 30-day timeframe, 82%–88% of the events had reported foreshock activity. For a five-day window, 76% of events had reported foreshocks; for three-day window, 71% of events had reported foreshocks; and for a one-day window, 47% of events had reported foreshocks. The foreshocks were commonly small- and moderate-size events, and measured magnitudes ranged from M 1.4 to M 6.1. Eight of these 17 earthquakes had foreshock sequences, and three of these were escalating foreshock sequences. One of the 17 events (1887 Carson Valley earthquake) had no reported foreshocks. The 1887 earthquake is an important reminder that even with the encouragingly high number of events with foreshocks in Nevada, damaging earthquakes will still occur without any apparent foreshock activity. Additionally, four of the 17 events only had reported foreshock activity within the hour before the mainshock; if this was all the foreshock activity for these events, it is a very short lead time. Twenty-two percent of larger earthquakes in Nevada were multiple events, and 17% were followed by a second M ≥6 earthquake within 12 hours. These observations have important emergency response and earthquake-preparedness safety implications.

The response of Nevadans to foreshock activity suggests the broader possibility that moderate events near communities can be used as windows of opportunity for earthquake preparedness. Such preparedness can have great short-term benefits should a strong earthquake occur and long-term benefits for future earthquakes.

Message from BLM: We are pleased to announce a new, exciting position available at BLM – BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. It is our hope that qualified, career oriented individuals at your organization or other professionals known to you will actively consider this position and apply accordingly. Efforts on your part to disseminate this information are greatly appreciated.

Two new Geologic Mapping Specialists were recently added to the faculty of the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology. These positions are responsible for conducting and managing geologic mapping programs in the state of Nevada as related to the evaluation of natural resources (e.g., mineral, geothermal, and oil-gas) and natural hazards (e.g., earthquakes, floods, and landslides). These positions will allow NBMG to better fulfill its core mission of carrying out geologic framework studies and producing geologic databases necessary for resource and hazard assessments.

Nick Hinz was recently hired to fill one of two new Geologic Mapping Specialist positions at the NBMG. His primary disciplines are in field mapping, structural geology, geothermal systems, and volcanic geology.

Nick earned a B.A. in geology from Whitman College and an M.S. in geology from University of Nevada, Reno. He has previously worked five years in private industry as a consulting geologist and for seven years in a soft money supported (100% grant-funded) position with the NBMG. The majority of his professional experience has been Nevada-based, focusing on geothermal energy resources, Basin and Range extensional tectonics, and evolution of the Walker Lane. The scope of his geothermal research has been to define structural and stratigraphic controls of reservoirs, identify regional patterns in resources, and help advance new and existing exploration strategies. These projects have involved systemic regional assessments, database compilation, detailed geologic mapping, integration of drill-hole and geophysical data sets, structural analyses, and constructing digital 2D and 3D geologic models.

In southern Nevada, Nick has conducted detailed geologic mapping of the Miocene-age Searchlight magmatic system in the lower Colorado River extensional corridor, including distinguishing the details of pluton emplacement and stratification, extensive dike swarms, and constraining the spatial and temporal relationships between magmatism, extension, and mineralization.

In western Nevada, Nick has completed several detailed mapping projects which constrain the evolution of the Walker Lane and help characterize the structural and tectonic setting of geothermal resources in this region.

Nick has previously worked closely with several of the NBMG research geologists including Jim Faulds, Chris Henry, Alan Ramelli, John Bell, and Larry Garside—as well as with faculty in the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, the Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy, and many of the geothermal companies in Nevada. Nick is currently working on 1:24:000-scale geologic mapping of the Mount Rose 7.5-minute quadrangle near Reno with Alan Ramelli and will be starting work on the Sloan 7.5-minute quadrangle along the south side of Las Vegas Valley next fall. He will continue to split his time between mapping efforts in both southern and northern Nevada as part of the NBMG geologic mapping program.

Seth Dee was also recently hired as a Geologic Mapping Specialist with Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology and began work at NBMG on April 28, 2014. His areas of expertise are geologic mapping, Quaternary geology, engineering geology, paleoseismology, and earthquake and landslide hazard characterization.

Seth has a B.S. in Geology from the University of Puget Sound and an M.S. in Geological Sciences from the University of Oregon. He is a licensed Professional Geologist in California and Utah with ten years professional experience performing geologic studies throughout North America, Asia, and the Middle East in the fields of geologic mapping, geologic hazard assessment, engineering geology, geotechnical engineering, and geochronology. Seth has a longstanding interest in the geology of the Basin and Range and is excited to be transitioning into a position with greater focus on geologic mapping and research. As a mapping geologist at NBMG, Seth will have the opportunity to work on the production of cutting-edge geologic maps that deliver long-term benefit to the economy, public safety, and public understanding of Nevada geology. His first-hand understanding of the end-user application of NBMG products for research, engineering, and hazard characterization will guide his approach to map production.

Seth’s combined academic and professional experience has prepared him for the technical, administrative, and logistical requirements of this position. Much of his work has included the production of geologic maps or the direct support of geologic mapping efforts. Seth’s graduate research at the University of Oregon included bedrock mapping and structural analysis of a metamorphic core complex in the Black Mountains of Death Valley to test two prevailing regional tectonic models. As a geologist at the USGS, Seth performed U-Pb analysis of zircons and assisted with geochronologic interpretations in support of geologic mapping projects across the U.S. With William Lettis and Associates and Lettis Consultants International, Seth has produced geologic maps for site investigations and geologic hazard characterizations in northern California, Utah, Idaho, Tennessee, Hong Kong, and Papua New Guinea.

Seth’s consulting project experience has exposed him to field work in varied geologic settings—from hazard characterizations of bedrock faults in the southwestern US to Quaternary studies in Asia and California. These experiences provide a foundation of geologic understanding that Seth can apply to mapping the diverse tectonic, stratigraphic and geomorphic conditions found within Nevada. He has performed subsurface evaluation of ore deposits in Utah and appreciates the complexity of mineral resource assessments and the important role that mineral extraction plays in the Nevada economy. Seth’s local project experiences include an engineering geological assessment of levee and flood wall upgrades along the Truckee River in Reno and seismic hazard characterization in the northern Walker Lane.

Seth has experience managing budgets, directing personnel, writing proposals, and providing deliverables on schedule for consulting projects, and these skills can be effectively applied to the geologic mapping and funding proposal efforts at NBMG. He has extensive experience in the application of GIS for the management and interpretation of large geodatabases, as well as the final production of geologic maps for publications and reports. For the past three years, Seth has employed digital field mapping techniques through the use of GIS/GPS-enabled Toughbooks and iPads, and looks forward to continuing the application of these techniques as the technology evolves.